Theresa Swope

What began as an individual quest to be kinder to the Earth has resulted in a program to educate fifth graders and their school about the benefits of recycling.

The PIRATES — People in Route to Achieving Terrific Educational Success — class of Bay Minette Intermediate School has implemented a school-wide recycling program that has already spread to students’ homes.

Jennifer Smith, co-teacher of the PIRATES class, said the idea began with her own recycling efforts.

“I live in Fairhope and Fairhope picks up recycling at my house,” Smith said.

Smith said her co-teacher, Danielle Watson, began bringing her recycling items to Smith and asking her to take them to Fairhope with her.

When Smith discovered Bay Minette had a recycling bin not even two blocks from the school, she and Watson put their heads together and came up with a program that would educate the students, as well as benefit the school and community.

“I think it’s important to be green at school, and, hopefully, it will spill over to home,” she said.

Recycling bins were made out of storage tubs and labeled for the individual categories — paper, plastic, aluminum and cardboard.

“The boys go around each day and collect the recyclable material from each class,” Smith said. “Then once a week, the students go on a walking field trip to the recycling bin located behind the police department.”

The class, known as an inclusion class, consists of all boys — one-third regular education students, one-third special education and one-third gifted education.

According to the students, they have already begun to use what they have learned at home.

The boys were divided into four groups, one for each type of recycling. Lenard Porter, a member of the  cardboard group, said he had learned what recycling does for the Earth.

“I learned that recycling helps to balance the ecosystem,” Porter said. “It’s good to help the Earth and make it green.”

Porter said his parents are starting to recycle items at home.

The newspaper and regular paper group was led by Bryant Jordan, who said he had learned recycling helps the Earth breathe.

“It helps the Earth and helps the air because the more trees you cut down the less air you have,” Bryant said.

Bryant said he and his family live close to the recycling bins and have started taking items to the bins. “They think it’s good because of my recycling,” Bryant said of his parents view of the program.

Bryan Kittrell and his group worked on aluminum cans, which he said is good because of its effect on garbage sites.

“We are saving the world and reducing waste,” Kittrell said. “I feel like I’m saving the world, and kids can make a difference in the world.”

Zack Homan said he and his group — the plastic bottle group — learned that they can fight environmental damage.

“If we recycle, we’ll fight global warming,” Homan said.

Homan said the program is educational and enjoyable.

“I get to spend time with my friends and we’re having fun,” Homan said. Homan said his parents are supportive of what he is doing at school and said they are learning from his experiences.

“They think (recycling) is a good thing. They haven’t been recycling, but maybe now they will,” Homan said.

The one message Watson said they would like the boys to take away from this program is that it starts with them.

“It starts with our school, then spreads to other schools, then to the city, the county and so on,” Watson said.

Watson said she and Smith are hoping to find some one who can donate a wagon to transport the newspapers in because of the weight.

Though the program is only a couple of months old, the two women believe it is a success and said they hope it will continue for years to come.